Extensible suit-case.



F. SPITZ.

EXTENSIBLE SUIT CASE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

1,052,018. Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mm nroz F. SPITZ.

EXTENSIBLE SUIT CASE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Feb. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

War was FREDERICK SPI'IZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXTENSIBLE SUIT-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4,1913.

Application filed May 24, 1912. Serial No. 699,415,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK Srrrz, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extensible Suit-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

One of the many objects of this invention is to provide a suit case or hand-bag which may be extended longitudinally to increase its length and its capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suit case of the character described wherein the parts will be of very simple construction, and wherein the exterior of the suit case will have practically the same appearance as a non-extensible case.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby both ends of the body of the case may be simultaneously and uniformly adjusted both in extending the case and in collapsing it, the cover of the suit case being also provided with means for accomplishing the same results.

There are many other important objects and advantages of the invention, all of which will appear hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the suit case open, showing the interior construction thereof; Figure 2 a detail per-' spective view of one of the extension racks; Fig. 3 a detail perspective view of the frame of one of the extensible ends of the case; Fig. 4 a side elevation of the suit case with the ends extended; Fig. 5 a longitudinal.

sectional view of the cover on the line V-V of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a detail transverse sectional view of the cover on the line VI-VI of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 a detail transverse sectional view of a portion of the cover on the line VII-VII of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 a detail side elevation, partly in section, of a'slightly different form of extension rack.

The cover and the body portion of the suit case are constructed exactly alike, except that, if desired, the cover is made of less depth than the main body of the case.

Referring to the various parts by numerals 1 designates the body part of the case and 2 the cover thereo Each of these parts is constructed of a central main section A and two extensible end sections. B.

The end sections fit outside of and slide on. the ends of the main or central section, as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The central section of the body of the case consists of the broad side 3 which constitutes the bottom of the case when the case is open, andthe top and bottom portions 4 and 0', these portions constituting the vertical sides of the case when the case is open, as shown in Fig. 1. To the top portion 4 is secured the handle 6. The main central section of the cover consists of the side section 7 and the top and bottom portions 8 and 9, respectively. The two bottom portions 5 and 9 of the two sections of the case are connected together by a hingelO, as shown clearly in Fig. 1. Each end section B of the body part and cover consists of a side section 11, an end portion 12 and top and bottom portions 13 and 14, respectively. These end portions are slightly larger than the central sections of the case and slide on the same exteriorly thereof. The top and bottom portions 13 and 14 of the end sections are bent inwardly to form the hook-like retaining and guidin flanges 15 along their free edges, said gui e flanges fitting over the edges of the top and bottom port-ions 4 and 5, and 7 and 8 of the main sections, as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 6 so that the said end sections are accurately guided in their inward and outward movement on the central sections.

The end sections are preferably made of sheet metal as shown. in Fig. 3 and then covered with any suitable material, such as leather, imitation leather, cloth or any other desired material. This covering 16, as shown in Fig. 6, is extended through slots 17 in the-top and bottom portions of said end sections, the edges of said material being secured in place on the inner sides of the portions 13 and 14. By this means a very neat and pleasing appearance will be given to the edges of the sections of the case and the flanges 15 which receive contension of the end sections I mount on a.-

central pivot or shaft on the inner side of each central portion a rack wheel 18 and engage therewith on opposite sides thereof extension racks 19, said racks sliding through suitable keepers QO-carried by the central section of the cover port-ion and of the body portion of the suit case. The ends of these extension racks are rigidly secured to angle bars 21 which are rigidly riveted or otherwise secured in the corners of the end sections formed by the end portions 12 and the side portions 11. These angle bars are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 5. It is manifest t at by this arran ement the two end sections must move uni 'ormly and simultaneously inwardly and outwardly on the central sections. llt is also manifest that the end sections are so guided that there cannot beany lateral swinging or canting movement. The bottom portions 14 of the end sections are connected together by hinges 22, as shown clearly in Fig. 1 so that the end sections of the cover and bod portions must move inwardly and outwar ly together.

Each of the end sections is provided along the edge which over-laps the central section with strap loops 23 through which is extended a strap 24, said loops and straps being so disposed that the strap completely covers the joint between the end sections and the central sections, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.. By this means the suit case as a whole will be strengthened around the edges of the end sections and the joint between said sections and the main section will be hidden so that exteriorly the case will have the appearance of an ordinary suit case provided with two reinforcing straps. The end sections are provided with any suitable form of interlocking catches 25 so that when the suit case is closed the cover portion and body port-ion of each end section will be securely interlocked together along their top edges and securely hinged together along their bottom edges. To lock the end sect-ions against accidental outward movement I provide a pin 26 which is adapted to be inserted in any one of a series of holes 27 in one extension rack in the body portion and one in the cover po1- tion of the suit case. It is manifest, how ever, that any suitable form of locking means may be employed to prevent the accidental upward movement of the end portions of the case.

In Fig. 8 l have shown a slightly different form of extension bar 19 to the ends of which are secured the angle bars 21*. One ofthese extension bars is provided with a pin 26 and the other with a series of holes 27*. By adjusting the bars on each other and arranging the pin 26" in the desired hole 27 and then sliding the locking sleeve 28 up close to the pin the two bars will be locked together against accidental longitudinal. movement so that both end sections will be locked a fixed distance from each other. It will, of course, be understood that the end sections may be made of any suitable material and l do not wish to be limited 5 in this respect. It will also be understood that, if desired, any suitable form of internal brace rods may be used to brace the top and bottom portions of the end sections and to secure them together if that be desired.

One of the great advantages of this invention is that it permits the suit cases to be greatly reduced in size for the purposes of shipment. It will at once he understood that by this means a considerable saving in space is effected and the consequent reduction in the cost of transportation. The reduction in size is also of great advantage when storing the goods.

What I claim is:

1. An extension suit case comprising a central section, two end sections fitting outside of and sliding on the central section,

each end section carrying inwardly extending flanges forming guide-ways inclosing the edges of the central section.

2. An extensible suit case comprising a central section, two end sections fitting outside of and sliding on the central section, each end section being formed with slots. 1'1 and inwardly extending hook-flanges 15, and a covering material for said end sections, said material extending through the said slots, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

3. An extension suit case comprising two central sections, two end sections fitting outside of and sliding on each of the central sections, each end section carrying inwardly extending flanges along its side edges, said flanges forming guide ways in which fit and slide the side edges of the central sections, a rack wheel mounted'in each of the central sections, an inwardly extending rack bar carried by each of the end sect-ions, each pair of rack bars engaging a rack wheel at opposite points, means for hinging together the centralsections, and means for hinglng together adjoining end sections.

4. An extenslon sult case comprising two central sections, two end sections fitting outextending flanges along its side edges, said flanges forming guide ways in which fit and slide the side edges of the central sections,

means whereby'the end sections of each central section may be simultaneously adjusted inwardly and outwardlv, means for hinging together the two central sections, and means for hinging together adjoining end sections. In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. FREDERICK SPITZ.

Witnesses:

LILLIAN M0GUIRE, F. R. MILLERv side of and sliding on each of the central 1 sections, each end section carrying inwardly 

